Recovering Workaholics is an organization set up for those of us who have proved ourselves to be very successful in our career but realize that work simply isn't enough. It is designed for people who are used to being in high- powered positions and have concentrated on building a career rather than a life.
Research into workaholics who have achieved a "Work-Life Balance" found that many only achieved true fulfilment and balance after a crisis had made them completely rethink their priorities.
Health scares were high on the list. Damaged relationships were common too.
Consider why you have developed your particular work habits and your response to stress. There are as many reasons as there are people. For many people there are a number of complicated reasons which stack one on another.
Are You Facing Retirement? or
Have you recently retired and found the transition difficult?
Does the thought of retirement fill you with excitement and anticipation? or
Do you dread the thought of giving up your job?
Workaholism is no different to the other “….holisms” in that the problem can be very difficult for partners and families to deal with.
If it happens occasionally it is likely to cause some minor irritation or inconvenience which is short lived. But if it has become the way of life it can be extremely damaging to our sense of self worth and in some contexts our health and well being.
When you are feeling at your most alive – raring to go and full of passion and energy – what are you doing?
When you feel tired and out of sorts, pulled down and exhausted what is at the bottom of your lack of energy?
We all lead incredibly busy lives. Almost every one you speak to complains that they are short of time and have too much to do. For many of us the way in which we deal with our “To Do” list can add to our sense of overwhelm leading to high levels of stress and a diminished sense of self worth.
Much is spoken and written about wealth. Many of us dream about having a life style supported by unlimited funds, indeed this is the basis for lotteries run world wide.
There is a paradox too in the research which has been done looking at the levels of happiness and satisfaction of those who have earned or won large sums of money. Money it seems, fails to buy a sense of fulfilment and contentment for a high proportion of those who attain their dream of being rich.
I wonder if you feel truly fulfilled? Do you look forward every day with glorious anticipation to the day ahead? Does your heart sink at the thought of what the next day will bring? Do you love bits of your life and wish that the rest of your life matched up?